COVID-19 test_positive. STOCK PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine College of Physicians (PCP) said Thursday that it has observed an increase in the number of COVID-19 patients in hospitals.
PCP President Dr. Maricar Limpin said they expected the increase in the number of patients due to the holiday season and because many people are no longer following health protocols against COVID-19.
“Yes, positive ‘yan. Talagang galing sa reports ng aming mga kasamahan na doktor ay sinabi po talaga nila na medyo dumami po ang kaso ng COVID-19 ngayon na nakikita namin sa hospitals,” Limpin told ABS-CBN’s Teleradyo when asked if they are observing an increase in patients.
(Yes, that is true. Our colleagues have observed a slight increase in the number of COVID-19 cases in hospitals.)
“Maski noon pa man, nakikita namin ang dami ng taong lumalabas at marami sa kanila ang hindi na sumusunod sa minimum public health standards, in particular ‘yung pagsusuot ng tama ng face masks at physical distancing,” Limpin said.
(Even before, we saw that more people are going out and many of them are not following the minimum public health standards, particularly the proper wearing of face masks and physical distancing.)
Limpin said that some public utility vehicles are also full of passengers.
“Nakikita din natin maski sa mga sasakyan, punong puno na, may standing pa nga. Talagang hindi na po sumusunod. ‘Yung sinasabi nila na dapat 70 percent lang ang capacity, hindi po ‘yun nangyari,” she said.
(We also saw that PUVs observe full capacity. Some passengers are even standing. They are not following the protocols. The 70 percent operating capacity is not being observed.)
“Actuallly almost one month nang nangyayari ‘yan kaya ineexpect naman talaga namin na dadami ang kaso ng COVID-19,” she added.
(That has been happening for almost one month. That’s why we are expecting that COVID-19 cases will increase.)
On Wednesday, the Department of Health (DOH) logged 889 new coronavirus infections and a positivity rate of 4.5 percent, higher than the less than 500 cases and less than one percent positivity rate in the previous weeks.
According to the DOH, cases are expected to increase “due to the holiday-related mobility and reduced compliance to minimum public health standards.”
“We cannot still be certain that the increase in cases is due to the Omicron Variant,” it added.
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